CARMARTHENSHIRE County Council staff have began the arduous annual task of cutting more than 3,700 miles - 6,000km - of the county's road-side grass verges.

The overall distance is equivalent to that from Ammanford to Chicago or from Ammanford to the centre of the Earth.

During this period drivers are being urged to take care as the council, which has a statutory obligation to maintain the highway in a safe condition for motorists and pedestrians, get to grips with their annual cut.

Generally one cut is carried out a year; however, a second cut may be needed in some areas in early September depending on weather and growing conditions.

Executive Board Member for Technical Services Councillor Hazel Evans said: “The maintenance of road verges is an important service provided by the council. In the interests of safety, vegetation on verges is kept trimmed to avoid obscuring of signs and visibility splays.

“It is unavoidable, however, that on some stretches of minor roads, the growth of verge vegetation will occasionally reduce visibility, and so we would advise motorists to drive carefully.”

The importance of the road verge network for nature conservation is reflected in the council’s verge maintenance policy. The roadside verges provide a rich and varied wildlife habitat offering shelter, a supply of food and corridors along which wildlife can travel.

Cllr Evans added: “The cutting of some verges may be delayed in the interests of conservation as long as highway safety is not jeopardised. Designated nature reserves where clearly identified and marked will not be cut.”